A United Nations judge and senior Ugandan legal figure has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of modern slavery offences in the UK. Lydia Mugambe, 50, who was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford, was convicted for forcing a young Ugandan woman to work without pay as a maid and nanny at her home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
Oxford Crown Court heard that Mugambe fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman, claiming she would work as a private servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner in London. However, once in the UK, the woman was taken directly to Mugambe’s home, where she was subjected to months of unpaid domestic servitude.
Judge David Foxton, in his sentencing remarks, said Mugambe had shown “absolutely no remorse” and attempted to “forcibly blame” the victim. He described it as a “very sad case,” acknowledging Mugambe’s prior work in human rights law and her role as a High Court judge in Uganda.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, detailed in a statement read to the court how she lived in “almost constant fear” due to Mugambe’s influence and feared for her safety if she returned to Uganda. She expressed concern that she might never see her family again.
Prosecutors revealed that Mugerwa, who sponsored the victim’s visa, knew she would be working for Mugambe. He faced a potential conspiracy charge, but diplomatic immunity shielded him, and the Ugandan government declined to waive it.
Chief Superintendent Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police praised the victim’s courage and urged other victims of modern slavery to come forward, noting the crime remains significantly underreported.
The University of Oxford has condemned Mugambe’s actions and announced it will begin its own disciplinary proceedings, which could lead to her expulsion.
The case highlights a disturbing abuse of power by a respected legal figure and underscores the ongoing challenge of combating modern slavery, even within prestigious institutions.
